One , if the the main reason why I have not yet replaced my P990i is the distinct shortage of eBook reader for S60E5.

Sure you could use the E3 version of Mobipocket reader - if you enjoy reading on only half the screen.

There was also a Java version of Mobipcoket reader - was - the Java verified certificate has run out. And a new certificate is unlikely. Mobipocket is dying anyway.

The new eBook kid on the block is ePUB which anybody apart from Amazon (Mobipocket is a subsidiary of Amanzon - which is probably also the reason why Mobipocket is dying) is using nowadays. You can get ePUB reader for iPhone, Android, Windows mobile but not Symbian.

And speaking of the iPhone - dedicated eBook shops for iPhone open Left, Right and Centre. I am almost tempted to get an iPhone just because of it. If the blasted thing only supported Java.

Back to the Point. I have a couple a questions:

Did I miss something? Maybe there is an eBook reader for S60E5 after all.

And if not what is to do? And something should be done as eBooks are the next big thing. Currently the companies squabble over DRM - but that is to go soon - first companies like Fictionwise and Beam eBooks offer books without the dreaded DRM.

And here lies a chance as well: Without DRM one does not need a licence to develop an eBook reader. And yes: I would pay for decent reader.

I agree that the utter lack of Mobipocket contribution to S60v5 is a disgrace. I have some unfinished ebooks on my P1i which I will have to read there, rather than on my 5800XM, if I want to read them at all The lack of comment from their side on the Mobipocket forums is also shameful.

I'm using isilo at the moment. It's really a nice offering - they have released a version for S60v5. I'm using it mainly to read free ebooks from memoware (great website!) and Project Gutenberg, rather then purchased ebooks.

I have some unfinished ebooks on my P1i which I will have to read there, rather than on my 5800XM, if I want to read them at all

Depending on which country you live in a Google for "Mobipocket remove DRM" might be helpful. In Switzerland the Customer rights and disabilities activists lobbied hard and here stripping DRM for private use is legal since 2007.

aqualung wrote:

The lack of comment from their side on the Mobipocket forums is also shameful.

I noticed that when Stanza was bought from Amazon official comments on new product features dropped to zero.

aqualung wrote:

I'm using isilo at the moment. It's really a nice offering - they have released a version for S60v5.

I'm sort of used to having to derive my mobipocket eBooks from text or HTML files so using a different eBook creator program like Fiction Book Designer doesn't bother me that anymore than having to use mobipocket creator did. I can't speak for everyone but I don't think it's that huge an issue to migrate from mobipocket reader/creator to fiction book designer/ZXReader

I'm sort of used to having to derive my mobipocket eBooks from text or HTML files

I see the difference here. I actually buy book and they usually come either as Mobipocket or as ePUB. And both format can be converted into the other easily enough. Calibre does it with excellent quality.

Another format means another converter. But will it have the same ease of use and quality?

Once you open Fiction Book Designer, it usually takes just 3 clicks of your mouse to convert an HTML file into FB2 format. So in that sense, it's pretty convenient. It's just a matter of getting used to the whole process. Quality of output depends on how much you've tweaked the HTML source, which I do quite a bit.

On the other hand, extracting HTML from the ePub or Mobipocket format does add a few more steps but if you have an hour or two to kill, you can probably convert 30 to 40 ePubs or Mobibooks easily.

Clearly, since Mobipocket is on the ropes, you'll have to adapt to a new format and way of doing things sooner or later. I think it's pretty evident that Amazon is going to abandon mobipocket in favor of its Kindle platform. You might want to think of it as re-digitizing the contents of an old digital archive to a new database -- this happens a lot in the IT universe.

I love books and I'm actually pretty old-school with most of the books I do like; I buy the print edition -- and usually in hardcover. This being the case, I don't base my decision on what mobile technology I'm going to use on whether or not it supports an electronic reader. If there's a good selection, great. If not, it won't affect my decision one way or another.

Just different strokes for different folks, I guess.

All I'm saying is that there's a viable alternative out there for S60v5 that isn't that much of a paradigm shift from Mobipocket.

Clearly, since Mobipocket is on the ropes, you'll have to adapt to a new format and way of doing things sooner or later. I think it's pretty evident that Amazon is going to abandon mobipocket in favor of its Kindle platform. You might want to think of it as re-digitizing the contents of an old digital archive to a new database -- this happens a lot in the IT universe.

Absolutely right Mobipocket dying and one has to look for a replacement.

But that replacement has been decided already: ePUB. There was no format war this time - everybody - even Sony - agreed. Even Mobipocket has ePUB support - not in the reader but the Mobipocket Windows Reader/Library-manager will convert ePUB on import.

ePUB is an open xml/zip based format. That is XML-Files packages inside a Zip-File. It has been designed to be easily converted into other format. Mobipocket ⇄ conversions work without loss of quality. Just for the fun of it I converted 200 Mobipocket books to ePUB. Calibre needed 5'36".

And calibre can convert HTML as well. It has this nice RSS function where RSS feeds are converted to eBooks and send to the device on next connect.

But still - I won't dismiss ZXReader. Only - anybody knows where it's home-page is. if You google for ZXReader all you get are forum and blog entries...

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